Camera platform horizontal axis shock and vibration isolator

ABSTRACT

A shock and vibration isolator camera includes a top plate is attached to a bottom plate via a universal joint that allows the top plate to pivot about two mutually perpendicular axes relative to the bottom plate. A camera attachment fitting, such a Mitchell mount fitting, may be provided on the top plate, for attaching a camera or camera accessory to the top plate. A threaded fitting may be provided on the bottom plate, for attaching the isolator to a supporting structure. A dampener/spring element is positioned between the top and bottom plates. The dampener/spring element may be separate springs and dampeners, such as gas or viscous dampeners. Alternatively, spring loaded shock absorbers, or a resilient material may be used.

BACKGROUND

The invention provides to an isolator for isolating a camera from shockand/or vibration. When filming or recording images, it is oftennecessary for the camera to be moved over a floor or ground surface.This movement must be accomplished smoothly. Even small amounts of shockor vibration of the camera can result in images that are shaky, erraticor blurred. Consequently, it is necessary to provide a steady platformfor the camera by isolating the camera from shock and vibration. It isan object of the invention to provide an improved shock and vibrationisolator for use with a camera.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a new isolator design, a top plate is attached to a bottom plate viaa universal joint that allows the top plate to pivot about two mutuallyperpendicular axes relative to the bottom plate. A camera attachmentfitting, such a Mitchell mount fitting, may be provided on the topplate, for attaching a camera or camera accessory to the top plate. Athreaded fitting may be provided on the bottom plate, for attaching theisolator to a supporting structure, such as the arm of a camera crane orcamera dolly, or to an intermediate accessory such as a riser,drop-down, extension, etc. A dampener/spring element is positionedbetween the top and bottom plates. The dampener/spring element may beseparate springs and dampeners, such as gas or viscous dampeners.Alternatively, spring loaded shock absorbers, or a resilient materialmay be used. The isolator may effectively isolate the camera from shockand vibration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shock and vibration isolator attachedto the arm of a camera dolly and supporting a camera.

FIG. 2 is section view of another isolator.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the top and bottom plates and theuniversal joint of the isolators shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the top plate shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the top plate shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the top plate shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the isolator shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A shown in FIG. 1, an isolator 20 may be supported on a camera dolly 10or a camera crane, to isolate a camera 12 from shock and vibration. FIG.2 shows a first embodiment having a top plate 22 attached to a bottomplate 24 via a universal joint 26. The isolator may be attached to acamera dolly 10 or camera crane arm using a hollow threaded stud 38attached to a stud plate 46 on the bottom plate 24.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a universal joint 24 having upper arms 28, orlateral arms, extending down from a bottom surface of the top plate, andlower arms 34, or longitudinal arms 34 extending up from a top surfaceof the bottom plate. An axle ring 30 has lateral and longitudinal axlesthat are pivotally attached to the lateral and longitudinal arms,respectively. The arms may attach to the axles through bearings. Othertypes of universal joints may also be used.

The universal joint 26 allows the top plate 22 to pivot about lateraland longitudinal axes relative to the bottom plate 24. The limit ofpivoting movement may vary depending on several factors. In the designshown, pivoting movement may be limited to about +/−15 or 12 degrees.

As shown in FIG. 2, dampener/spring elements 42 are pivotally attachedto the top and bottom plates via pivot attachments 44. Thedampener/spring elements 42 may be spring loaded shock absorbers. Ifused, the spring loaded shock absorbers exert an outward, compressiveforce acting on the plates tending to hold or return the top plate tothe level position shown in FIG. 2, where the top plate is parallel tothe bottom plate. The spring loaded shock absorbers may also have gas orliquid viscous dampening, to dampen movement of the top plate relativeto the bottom plate. Other forms of dampener/spring elements may also beused. For example, separate spring elements, and separate dampeningelements may be used. In the example shown in FIG. 2, four equallyspaced apart spring loaded shock absorbers are used.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the top and bottom plates may have inner rims50 and outer rims 52. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the dampener/springelement 42 may optionally be provided as one or more pieces of aresilient material, such as open cell foam, or foam rubber. In thiscase, the resilient material can also be in the form of a ring 60 whichis held between the plates via the inner and outer rims 50 and 52, asshown in FIG. 7. With the ring 60 captive between the plates, the ringneed not be adhered to either plate, allowing for easier manufacture ofthe isolator, and replacement of the ring. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 2, the rims may be omitted.

Turning to FIGS. 4-6, a fitting or feature may be provided on the topplate, to allow a camera or a camera accessory to be convenientlyattached to the top plate. The fitting 40 may be a Mitchell mount, whichis a standard fitting well known in the motion picture industry. Othertypes of fittings may of course optionally be used.

FIGS. 2 and 7 show scale drawings of the isolator 20 with all elementsshown in proper proportion. Setting aside the Mitchell mount 42 and holepatterns, the top and bottom plates may optionally be the same. As shownin FIG. 7, the top and/or bottom plate may have a flat central area andan angles or tapering outer annular section, leading out to an outer rim52, if used. The rim 52 on one or both plates may be used to help holdring 60 or resilient material in place.

If used, the ring 60, or other shapes of resilient materials, may bepre-loaded by compressing it between the plates. Pre-loading theresilient material insures that it will provide adequate force toquickly return the load to a level position. The resilient material maybe a combination of materials such as urethane foam, foam rubber,others. These types of resilient materials have both spring anddampening characteristics. Consequently, when the top plate 22 isdisplaced from level due a shock or vibration impulse, the resilientmaterial acts to quickly return it to level, via the materials springcharacteristic, with little or no overshooting or resonance, via thematerials dampening characteristics.

When the resilient material is compressed between the plates to providepre-loading, it may tend to radially bulge out at the sides. Optionally,and elastic retainer or strap may encircle the resilient material, toprovide a higher material spring constant. Different types and shapes ofresilient material may be used for handling different loads. A resilientmaterial between the plates may also be used in combination with thedampener/spring elements 42 shown in FIG. 2.

Thus, a novel isolator has been shown and described. Various changes andsubstitutions may of course be made, without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention. The invention, therefore, should not belimited, except by the following claims, and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolator, comprising: a top plate attached toa bottom plate via a universal joint that allows the top plate to pivotabout two mutually perpendicular axes relative to the bottom plate; acamera attachment fitting on the top plate; a threaded fitting on thebottom plate, for attaching the isolator to a supporting structure; atleast two dampeners spaced apart from each and attached to the top andbottom plates; and at least two springs spaced apart from each andattached to the top and bottom plates.
 2. The isolator of claim 1wherein the dampeners and springs are combined into at least twodampener/spring elements, which hold the top plate parallel to thebottom plate when no shock or vibration is applied to the isolator. 3.The isolator of claim 2 further comprising four equally spaced apartdampener/spring elements attached to the top and bottom plates.
 4. Theisolator of claim 1 with the camera attachment fitting comprising aMitchell mount and with the threaded fitting comprising a hollowthreaded stud.
 5. The isolator of claim 1 with the universal jointincluding an axle ring having a pair of lateral axles alignedperpendicularly to a pair of longitudinal axles, and with the lateralaxles pivotally attached to a pair of lateral arms on the top plate, andwith the longitudinal axles pivotally attached to a pair of longitudinalarms on the bottom plate.
 6. An isolator, comprising: a top plateattached to a bottom plate via a universal joint that allows the topplate to pivot about two mutually perpendicular axes relative to thebottom plate; a resilient material compressed between the top plate andthe bottom plate; and an isolator attachment fitting on the bottomplate.
 7. The isolator of claim 6 further comprising: a top inner rimand a top outer rim on a bottom surface of the top plate; a bottom innerrim and a bottom outer rim on a top surface of the bottom plate; and theresilient material comprising a ring held in place between the top andbottom plates by the inner and outer rims.
 8. The isolator of claim 6with the resilient material comprising a ring.
 9. The isolator of claim6 with the resilient material comprising a plurality of spaced apartpieces.
 10. The isolator of claim 6 with the resilient materialcomprising an open cell foam material.
 11. The isolator of claim 6 withthe top plate pivotable up to +/−15 degrees relative to the bottomplate.
 12. The isolator of claim 6 wherein the resilient material holdsthe top plate parallel to the bottom plate when no shock or vibration isapplied to the isolator.
 13. An isolator, comprising: a top plate; apair of spaced apart lateral axis arms attached to a bottom surface ofthe top plate; a pair of spaced apart longitudinal axis arms attached toa top surface of the bottom plate; an axle ring having lateral axlespivotally attached to the lateral axis arms, and longitudinal axlespivotally attached to the longitudinal axis arms, to allow the top plateto pivot about lateral and longitudinal axes relative to the bottomplate; a dampener/spring element between the top and bottom plates; acamera attachment fitting on the top plate; and an isolator attachmentfitting on the bottom plate.
 14. The isolator of claim 13 with thedampener/spring element comprising: at least two dampeners spaced apartfrom each and attached to the top and bottom plates; and at least twosprings spaced apart from each and pivotally attached to the top andbottom plates.
 15. The isolator of claim 13 wherein the dampener/springelement comprises four equally spaced apart dampener/spring elementspivotally attached to the top and bottom plates.
 16. The isolator ofclaim 13 with the dampener/spring element comprising one or more piecesof resilient material.
 17. The isolator of claim 16 further comprising:a top inner rim and a top outer rim on a bottom surface of the topplate; a bottom inner rim and a bottom outer rim on a top surface of thebottom plate; with the resilient material comprising a ring of resilientmaterial between the top plate and the bottom plate, held in placebetween the top and bottom plates by the inner and outer rims.